Description
Fresh strawberries from local farms create pioneer woman strawberry freezer jam, a simple preserve that celebrates summer’s sweet harvest. Home cooks can quickly prepare this delightful spread with minimal ingredients and zero cooking required.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups sugar
- 2 cups strawberries (crushed)
- 1 box Sure-Jell premium fruit pectin (1.75 oz / 49.6 g)
- ¾ cup water (180 ml)
Instructions
- Strawberry Preparation: Crush strawberries using a potato masher or food processor, maintaining a chunky fruit texture that preserves the natural berry essence.
- Sugar Integration: Combine crushed strawberries with granulated sugar, allowing the mixture to rest and macerate for 10 minutes, periodically stirring to encourage sugar dissolution.
- Pectin Activation: In a saucepan, blend powdered pectin with water, bringing to a vigorous boil while whisking continuously. Maintain rolling boil for exactly one minute, then remove from heat source.
- Mixture Fusion: Pour hot pectin solution into strawberry-sugar mixture, stirring persistently for three minutes to ensure complete incorporation. Minor sugar crystals are permissible.
- Jarring Process: Carefully transfer jam into sterilized glass containers, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Wipe jar rims with a clean, damp cloth and secure lids tightly.
- Setting and Storage: Allow jars to rest at room temperature for 24 hours to set and develop flavor complexity. Transfer to a cool, dark storage area for optimal preservation.
Notes
- Crush Carefully: Gently mash strawberries to keep delightful fruit chunks intact, avoiding over-processing that can destroy natural texture.
- Sugar Timing Matters: Let sugar and strawberry mixture rest for 10 minutes, allowing sugar to dissolve and intensify natural berry sweetness.
- Pectin Precision: Boil pectin exactly 60 seconds – no more, no less – to activate gelling properties without compromising jam’s fresh flavor.
- Storage Strategy: Allow jam to set at room temperature for 24 hours, then transfer to refrigerator or freezer for extended preservation, maintaining peak freshness up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 188
- Sugar: 46g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg